Supine patient transfer package

Abstract

A patient transfer package for laterally transferring a supine patient between adjoining horizontal surfaces includes: (a) a first nonwoven sheet having a top and a bottom surface for which the coefficient of friction of the top surface is less than 50% of the coefficient of friction of the bottom surface, (b) a second nonwoven sheet that is similarly constructed as the first sheet but which is not as wide, (c) assembling these sheets into a package with the second sheet turned upside down and laid on top of the first sheet whose top surface is facing upward, (d) a specified percentage of the first sheet's side portions extends beyond the edges of the second sheet and turn upwards and over upon the bottom surface of the second sheet, and (f) a means for temporarily and releasably attaching the first sheet's edges to the bottom surface of the second sheet.

1 . A patient transfer package for laterally transferring a supine patient from one horizontal surface to another horizontal surface, said package comprising:
 a first, rectangular-shaped nonwoven sheet having a top and a bottom surface and a head end and a foot end and between which extends the longitudinal centerline for said first sheet, a middle portion, a right side portion and a left side portion and a right edge and a left edge, and wherein the perpendicular distance between said edges defines a first width of said first sheet, and wherein said top and bottom surfaces of said first sheet each have a different coefficient of friction, and wherein the coefficient of friction of said top surface is less than 50% of the coefficient of friction of said bottom surface,   a second, rectangular-shaped nonwoven sheet having a top and a bottom surface and a head end and a foot end and between which extends the longitudinal centerline for said second sheet, a middle portion, a right side portion and a left side portion and a right edge and a left edge, and wherein the perpendicular distance between said edges defines a second width of said second sheet, and wherein said top and bottom surfaces of said second sheet each have a different coefficient of friction, and wherein the coefficient of friction of said top surface is less than 50% of the coefficient of friction of said bottom surface, and wherein said first width is greater than said second width, and   wherein said first and second sheets are assembled together into a package with said second sheet being turned upside down and laid on top of said first sheet that is oriented so that said top surface of said first sheet is facing upward and so that only a specified percentage of said side portions of said first sheet extend beyond the edges of said second sheet,   wherein said edges of said first sheet are turned upwards and over upon the bottom surface of said second sheet, and   a means for temporarily and releasably attaching said first sheet edges to the bottom surface of said second sheet.   
     
     
         2 . The patient transfer package as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an intermediate sheet having an upper part and a lower part,   wherein said lower part having a third rectangular-shaped nonwoven sheet having a top and a bottom surface and a head end and a foot end and between which extends the longitudinal centerline for said third sheet, a middle portion, a right side portion and a left side portion and a right edge and a left edge, and wherein said top and bottom surfaces of said third sheet each have a different coefficient of friction, and wherein the coefficient of friction of said top surface is less than 50% of the coefficient of friction of said bottom surface, and wherein said third sheet is oriented as part of said intermediate sheet with the bottom surface of said third sheet turned upward,   wherein said upper part having a fourth rectangular-shaped nonwoven sheet having a top and a bottom surface and a head end and a foot end and between which extends the longitudinal centerline for said fourth sheet, a middle portion, a right side portion and a left side portion and a right edge and a left edge, and wherein said top and bottom surfaces of said fourth sheet each have a different coefficient of friction, and wherein the coefficient of friction of said top surface is less than 50% of the coefficient of friction of said bottom surface,   and wherein said fourth sheet is oriented as part of said intermediate sheet with the top surface of said fourth sheet facing upward,   wherein the bottom surface of said upper part is attached to the bottom surface of said lower part,   and wherein said intermediate sheet is located in said package between said first and second sheets.   
     
     
         3 . The patient transfer package as recited in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said package is further configured such that when said package is to provide for n lateral transfers, (n−1) intermediate sheets are placed one upon another in said package.   
     
     
         4 . The patient transfer package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said coefficient of friction of said top surface is in the range of 0.1 to 0.3.   
     
     
         5 . The patient transfer package as recited in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said coefficient of friction of said top surface is in the range of 0.1 to 0.3.   
     
     
         6 . The patient transfer package as recited in  claim 3 , wherein:
 said coefficient of friction of said top surface is in the range of 0.1 to 0.3.   
     
     
         7 . The patient transfer package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said nonwoven sheet has a basis weight in the range of 1.0-2.5 ounces/yard 2  and a thickness in the range of 5×10 −3 -9×10 −3  inches.   
     
     
         8 . The patient transfer package as recited in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said nonwoven sheet has a basis weight in the range of 1.0-2.5 ounces/yard 2  and a thickness in the range of 5×10 −3 -9×10 −3  inches.   
     
     
         9 . The patient transfer package as recited in  claim 3 , wherein:
 said nonwoven sheet has a basis weight in the range of 1.0-2.5 ounces/yard 2  and a thickness in the range of 5×10 −3 -9×10 −3  inches.   
     
     
         10 . The patient transfer package as recited in  claim 4 , wherein:
 said nonwoven sheet has a basis weight in the range of 1.0-2.5 ounces/yard 2  and a thickness in the range of 5×10 −3 -9×10 −3  inches.   
     
     
         11 . The patient transfer package as recited in  claim 5 , wherein:
 said nonwoven sheet has a basis weight in the range of 1.0-2.5 ounces/yard 2  and a thickness in the range of 5×10 −3 -9×10 −3  inches.   
     
     
         12 . The patient transfer package as recited in  claim 6 , wherein:
 said nonwoven sheet has a basis weight in the range of 1.0-2.5 ounces/yard 2  and a thickness in the range of 5×10 −3 -9×10 −3  inches.   
     
     
         13 . The patient transfer package as recited in  claim 4 , wherein:
 said bottom surface of said nonwoven sheet has a coefficient of friction that is in the range of 2.1-5 times that of the coefficient of friction of said top surface.   
     
     
         14 . The patient transfer package as recited in  claim 5 , wherein:
 said bottom surface of said nonwoven sheet has a coefficient of friction that is in the range of 2.1-5 times that of the coefficient of friction of said top surface.   
     
     
         15 . The patient transfer package as recited in  claim 6 , wherein:
 said bottom surface of said nonwoven sheet has a coefficient of friction that is in the range of 2.1-5 times that of the coefficient of friction of said top surface.   
     
     
         16 . The patient transfer package as recited in  claim 10 , wherein:
 said bottom surface of said nonwoven sheet has a coefficient of friction that is in the range of 2.1-5 times that of the coefficient of friction of said top surface.   
     
     
         17 . The patient transfer package as recited in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said bottom surface of said nonwoven sheet has a coefficient of friction that is in the range of 2.1-5 times that of the coefficient of friction of said top surface.   
     
     
         18 . The patient transfer package as recited in  claim 12 , wherein:
 said bottom surface of said nonwoven sheet has a coefficient of friction that is in the range of 2-5 times that of the coefficient of friction of said top surface.   
     
     
         19 . The patient transfer package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said nonwoven sheet is made from a Tyvek® soft product.   
     
     
         20 . The patient transfer package as recited in  claim 18 , wherein:
 said nonwoven sheet is made from a Tyvek® soft product.   
     
     
         21 . A patient transfer platform for laterally transferring a patient from one horizontal surface to another horizontal surface, said platform comprising:
 a first, sheet having a top and a bottom surface and a head end and a foot end and between which extends the longitudinal centerline for said first sheet, a middle portion, a right side portion and a left side portion and a right edge and a left edge, and wherein the perpendicular distance between said edges defines a first width of said first sheet, and wherein said top and bottom surfaces of said first sheet each have a different coefficient of friction, and wherein the coefficient of friction of said top surface is less than the coefficient of friction of said bottom surface,   a second, sheet having a top and a bottom surface and a head end and a foot end and between which extends the longitudinal centerline for said second sheet, a middle portion, a right side portion and a left side portion and a right edge and a left edge, and wherein the perpendicular distance between said edges defines a second width of said second sheet, and wherein said top and bottom surfaces of said second sheet each have a different coefficient of friction, and wherein the coefficient of friction of said top surface is less than the coefficient of friction of said bottom surface, and   wherein said first and second sheets are assembled together with said second sheet being turned upside down and laid on top of said first sheet that is oriented so that said top surface of said first sheet is facing upward and the top surface of the second sheet is facing downward and   a means for temporarily and releasably attaching said first sheet edges to the bottom surface of said second sheet.